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Showing posts with label Kara Kenney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kara Kenney. Show all posts

Friday, May 3, 2019

Kara Kenney’s Reports On Fred Glynn’s Challenge to Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard


Fred Glynn talking to RTV6’s Kara Kenney

One of the best reporters in Indiana Kara Kenney has a story tonight covering Fred Glynn’s Carmel Mayoral Campaign. From Kara Kenney’s report:

A Hamilton County councilor is seeking to unseat longstanding Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard in Tuesday’s primary election.

Brainard was first elected mayor of the City of Carmel back in 1995.

The City of Carmel is consistently voted one of the best and safest places to live in the country . Fellow Republican and challenger Fred Glynn said it could be even better.

"We need new leadership,” Glynn said. “He's been in there for 24 years. We need some fresh thinking and new ideas.”

“We need to stop racking up debt and stop pushing for density,” Glynn said. “What is Carmel going to look like in 10 years? That’s the question.”

Glynn pointed to public private projects, such as hotels, that are paid for with city bonds.

“We’ve got to stop giving our money away to developers,” Glynn said.

Glynn shared a 2017 report from S&P Global that said Carmel’s long-term debt grew by over $300 million in just three years.

“The annual debt costs are already high, and are estimated to grow 71% by 2022,” read the report. “The city doesn’t have a high reserve cushion, relative to the size of annual debt services, to carry it through extended stressful periods.”

“My concern is we’re racking up the credit card and the credit card is maxed out,” Glynn said. “That debt has got to be paid.”

“Do you want to be surrounded by apartments and have development shoved down your throat or do you want someone who is going to work with the community and consider every stakeholder that's involved,” said Glynn. “That's what kind of leader I will be. "

Glynn said if elected, this is what he plans to accomplish in his first 100 days in office:

  • Host the first-ever small business advisory committee summit to advise the mayor’s office on the needs the city’s small business owners.
  • Implement a 180-day freeze on new downtown development to allow for a long-range traffic and population density study.
  • Send a priority-based, truly balanced budget to the Carmel City Council.
  • Sign an executive order to provide funding to hire additional police officers.
  • Send a debt-reduction plan to the city council that implements a plan to reduce the city’s long-term debt by 20 percent by the end of my first term.
  • Sign an executive order immediately halting future city government giveaways and subsidiaries to private development projects.
  • Send the city council a resolution to freeze the pay of all city-wide elected officials for the next four years.
  • Sign an executive order that strengthens sexual harassment policies for city workers and officials that includes harsher punishment for violators.
  • Have neighborhood liaisons in every neighborhood in this city and meet quarterly. We will once again put focus on our communities instead of focusing all resources and effort on a few square blocks downtown.
Mayor Jim Brainard was scheduled to do an interview with RTV6 on April 29. However, that day, RTV6 received an email from his office canceling the interview.

When RTV6 attempted to reschedule the interview, Brainard’s office said no.

IR has been hearing rumblings out of Carmel that Mayor Brainard is worried he might lose Tuesday’s Primary. We all would be so thrilled to see Brainard be giving the boot by the voters! We urge everyone out there who can to vote for Glynn on Tuesday and if you cannot please donate or volunteer for the Glynn campaign. Let’s win this one for Paul Ogden, Gary Welsh and every Hoosier patriot out there.

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Indiana Department of Insurance Continues to Mistreat Their Employees 

In a sign that "High Tax" Holcomb is determined to continue the denigration of Indiana’s state employees started by his master "Godfather Governor" Mitch Daniels.
Kara Kenney over at RTV 6 reports the case of a former state employee who alleged sexual harassment she experienced and how nothing was done about her complaints.
Click here to watch Kenney’s report:


Kenney reported the following on January 31st, 2019:
Former state employees say workplace harassment is widespread in Indiana state government, and that the state does not follow its own written policy regarding misconduct.
Shandi Donald, a former clerical assistant at the Indiana Department of Insurance, said the problem got so bad she resigned, while her accused harasser kept his job.
"I believe this is a very big problem," Donald said.
Much like other workplaces, Indiana state government has a workplace harassment prevention policy in place to protect workers.
"The State will not tolerate workplace harassment, whether engaged in by fellow employees, supervisors, officers, or by outside clients or other non-employees who conduct business with the State," read the state’s policy. "The State encourages reporting of all incidences of alleged harassment, regardless of who the offender may be or the offender’s status."
The state’s policy also prohibits retaliating against employees who report harassment.
Kenney however says she has spoken to many state workers who say that the state does not enforce it’s policy against harassment. She goes on to cite a particular former state employees story:

Shandi Donald, of Indianapolis, is married with a young daughter, which is one of the main reasons she decided to speak out about workplace harassment.
"People will continue to experience this, and I for one don’t want my child to experience this as she gets into the workforce," Donald said.
Donald resigned from the Indiana Department of Insurance in June 2018 after what she called repeated sexual harassment from then-Chief of Staff Doug Webber.

Donald said the issues started in December 2017, a few months after she started working in the licensing division.
Donald provided several examples of what she called inappropriate comments made by Webber.
"He said ‘it’s really cold outside, let me put my hands on your butt’ and reached for my hind end," Donald said. "I backed away and I said ‘excuse me?’"
Donald said Webber made another remark among a group of employees.

"We were talking about sports in high school, and he came down and chimed into the conversation and I had talked about being a cheerleader and he asked if I did cartwheels in skirts," said Donald. "I looked at everyone else. They all had the same face like ‘did he really just say that’?

Donald described another example that she said also happened in a group setting.
"He was referencing a Christmas party at his home for the Department of Insurance and asked if people were going to be wearing an ugly sweater," Donald said. "He made the comment that he was going to get one that says #MeToo. At that point, a couple people walked away."

Donald said at the time, employees did not feel comfortable speaking out against Webber.
"You can’t say anything to the Chief of Staff," Donald said. "You’ll lose your job."
Donald said she and her co-workers trusted and looked up to Webber.

Kenney reports that Donald reported Webber’s conduct to State Personnel in January of 2018. As if Webber’s alleged misconduct was not bad enough what Kara Kenney reports next is perhaps more disturbing:
Donald provided copies of the emails sent to state personnel to Call 6 Investigates.
"I told (state personnel) I fear for retaliation," Donald said. "It's not a very good work environment as far as the people who are in charge, and I’m afraid my life is going to be made hell."

Donald said state personnel assured her the state does not tolerate retaliation.
But Donald said when she went on vacation, several co-workers told her another supervisor went through her desk and recycling bins.
"I believe they were looking for anything they possibly could," Donald said.
Webber denied any involvement in the desk incident.

Following Donald’s workplace harassment complaint in January 2018, Webber remained in his role as Chief of Staff at the Indiana Department of Insurance for 11 months until he retired on Dec. 1.
State personnel did investigate Donald’s workplace harassment complaint, however, the findings of that investigation are not public record.
"INSPD investigates all workplace harassment complaints we receive," Carlo Bertollini, spokesperson for state personnel, said.
According to personnel records obtained by Call 6 Investigates, Webber did not face disciplinary suspension, demotion or termination.
He earned $123,231 at the Department of Insurance as Chief of Staff, overseeing the regulation of insurance in Indiana, records show.

A licensed attorney, Webber also served as general counsel for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and IDOI, as well as numerous roles at the Indiana Attorney General’s office dating back to 1976.
Donald provided emails to RTV6 that showed state personnel encouraged her to apply for different jobs within state government.
The fact that state personnel encouraged Mrs. Donald to file for other jobs with the state makes us inclined to believe that SPD as is there SOP simply wants to cover up wrong doing by the states political appointees. The fact that Webber used to work with Jim Atterholt at the IURC leads us to believe that the allegations against Webber are credible. Our readers may remember that then IDOI Commissioner Jim Atterholt fired Paul Ogden back in 2007 for whistleblowing. So needless to say that IDOI doesn’t exactly have a great reputation as far as treating their employees goes. As for what our correspondents at the state tell us. Sexual and other harassment is far too widespread at state agencies.

For further information on Paul Ogden’s time at the IDOI please checkout the following:

Paul Ogden's time at the Department of Insurance:
http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2008/12/part-i-my-days-at-department-of.html

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2008/12/art-ii-my-days-at-department-of.html

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2008/12/part-iii-my-days-at-department-of.html

Court of Appeals boneheaded decision on Ogden's lawsuit against the DOI:

http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/02211201par.pdf

Of further interest is Kara Kenney’s November 2018 report about the termination of former DCS spokesmen James Wide. Wide had alleged retaliation, racial discrimination and other issues at DCS. Mr. Wide has since reached a confidential settlement with the state. Kudos to Kara Kenney for her diligent reporting on the harassment of state employees. Keep up the good work Kara!

You go girl!

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Indiana State Supreme Court deals another blow to State Employee Whistleblowers








More bad news for Indiana State Employees. Kara Kenney of WRTV reported on Monday November 13th, 2017 that Suzanne Esserman a 25-year veteran of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) lost her whistleblower case against the State of Indiana.

Kara Kenney writes:

The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled against an ex-state employee who said she was fired for blowing the whistle on misuse of state tax dollars.
In a decision handed down November 2, the Indiana Supreme Court found the state of Indiana is immune from a claim made by Suzanne Esserman under the Indiana False Claims and Whistleblower Protection Act.

Esserman told Call 6 Investigates she was fired from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management when she refused to rubber stamp questionable claims.

In a split decision, the Indiana Supreme Court agreed with the Marion County Superior Court’s dismissal of her lawsuit against IDEM.
Most of the Supreme Court justices said the state is immune from non-tort claims because the whistleblower act does clearly show the state could be sued for violations of the whistleblower statute.
Esserman’s attorney says Indiana workers should be concerned about the ruling, because it makes it more difficult for government employees to expose wrongdoing.
“Ms. Esserman and I are very disappointed about this decision,” said Esserman’s attorney Mary Jane Lapointe. “This decision has the effect of insulating the State from liability for its own misconduct and penalizes the employee who tries to stand up for the taxpayers.”
Justice Steven David dissented, arguing when the law says “employer,” state government should be included in that.

Esserman and her attorney are calling for the state legislature to update the law to specifically include state government as an employer that can be sued under the Whistleblower Act.

“I agree with the dissenting Justice that the term ‘employer’ is clear as a bell, and in our case the State is the employer so the law should apply,” said LaPointe. “We can only hope that the General Assembly will amend this law to make clear that an ‘employer’ includes the State.”

Esserman had worked for IDEM for nearly 25 years and was terminated on January 17, 2014, while working as a senior environmental manager.

The Marion County Superior Court decided IDEM had immunity and dismissed the case.

In December, the Indiana Court of Appeals overturned the dismissal of her whistleblower lawsuit and the case is now in the hands of the Indiana Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in May.

The Supreme Court ruling pointed out that state workers have another option to sue, under the State Personnel Act.

But Esserman’s attorney said that’s not enough to make up.

“We have utilized that remedy, however, the State Personnel Act’s whistleblower provision does not protect those who object to illegal activity but do not put it in writing—and Ms. Esserman had more oral complaints than written ones,” said Lapointe.

Under the State Personnel Act the employee can’t collect more than 30 days of back pay, and no attorney fees.

Call 6 Investigates has contacted IDEM for a response to the Indiana Supreme Court ruling.

Kara Kenney had first covered this story back in October here.

While we all agree that the State's Whistleblower Law needs to be much better written. IR is skeptical that just enacting a great whistleblower protection law for state employees will do very good. Simply because if the law is never enforced it is meaningless. Longtime readers of INDY REPUBLICAN, ADVANCE INDIANA, and OGDEN ON POLITICS may remember Paul Ogden's fight to be reinstated at the Indiana Department of Insurance after he reported violations of law being committed by an upper-level supervisor. Mr. Ogden was promptly fired for doing his job and reporting illegal activity. We all appreciate and respect Kara Kenney's longstanding commitment to investigative journalism. Ms. Kenney's report on the IDEM Whistleblower reminds us all of Deanna Dewberry's report on Whistleblowers at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development back in 2012.

Here are some links to further information about past state employee whistleblowers:

Paul Ogden's posts on whistleblowing:

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/search?q=Whistleblower

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2008/12/part-i-my-days-at-department-of.html

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2008/12/art-ii-my-days-at-department-of.html

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2008/12/part-iii-my-days-at-department-of.html

Paul Ogden and Gary Welsh's posts on the 2012 Department of Workforce Development's Whistleblowers:

http://www.ogdenonpolitics.com/2012/02/whistleblowers-attempt-to-report.html

http://advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2012/02/whistle-blowers-say-mismanagement-at.html






Saturday, October 21, 2017

Former Indianapolis Prosecutor's Law license suspended after altering public records

Sorry to just be now reporting on this. The IR team has been very busy as of late. WRTV 6's Jordan Fischer had an interesting report about a former Indianapolis Prosecutor whose law license has been suspended for falsifying public records. Jordan Fischer's report from October 18th, 2017 had this to say:

The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended a former Indianapolis city prosecutor’s law license for altering records of his communications with Call 6 Investigates.
Former deputy prosecutor Mark Pizur was terminated from his position in April 2016 after he admitting to doctoring public records. In a statement to the court, Pizur called the move a “total lapse of judgment.”

The records in question were email communications between Pizur and Call 6 Investigator Kara Kenney following the death of puppies at the city shelter. The puppies were delivered by dogs seized from Upton's Famous Pet Training Center as part of an ongoing case against the kennel.

Last week, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered Pizur to serve a 180-day suspension from practicing law, to begin Nov. 22.
Pizur’s law license will be automatically reinstated following that period.
The city of Indianapolis eventually returned the dogs to Upton after an agreement was reached in December 2016. In exchange, Upton agreed to dismiss several lawsuits against the city and halt pending records requests and complaints.

Alrighty Then! Let's just digest what WRTV has reported. Mark Pizur a former Indianapolis City Prosecutor has admitted he was guilty of doctoring public records that he gave to WRTV Reporter Kara Kenney and he gets a six month suspension with automatic reinstatement of his law license. But Paul Ogden who did nothing more than accurately point out that a judge was violating the lazy judge rule was slapped with a $10,000 fine and 30 day suspension of his law license with automatic readmission. Why is Pizur not at the very least facing jail time or at least a heavy fine? This does not seem like justice was served in this case. But we are not at all surprised. Back in 2014 Scott Storms a former Administrative Law Judge at the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission who was fired from the IURC for overseeing cases related to Duke Energy, while at the same time Mr. Storms was lobbying Duke Energy for a job. In that case Storms was only given a reprimand. Even though his actions may have caused serious problems for people all over Indiana. Paul Ogden and Gary Welsh reported on Scot Storms scandal here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here
For more information on Mark Pizur and the Upton Pet Training Center case. Please check out the following links:

Kudos to Jordan Fischer and Kara Kenney for all there good journalistic work.